Friday, January 29, 2010

When You See a Guy Reach for Stars In the Sky...


A couple days ago my aunt uncovered a bunch of old family photos, most of which I had never seen before.

This particular one is of my and my Papa, when I was just a baby.

He died when I was around 7 years old I think, I don't really remember it that well to be honest. Its strange the things that stick with you when you lose a relative when you are young. I recall that my Papa loved chocolate. I'm talking all out adored the stuff and when we would visit him my mom would often stop off a the store to pick up a Hershey bar. I also remember going over this his house and playing penny poker with him, even though I had no idea how to play poker and just kinda made up my own rules. I always left with $5.00 bucks, which was the equivalent to a million in my child eyes.


The best memory I have though, is when I was a little girl and would go over to my Papa and Nana's house and would beg my Nana to watch her Guys and Dolls tape, you know the one with Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra. I was totally enamoured with that video. Something about the singing and the dancing seriously captured my heart and attention. My Papa had me totally convinced that he was a Broadway dancer and that he was in that movie. I can't be sure, but I think that way back then that small fib was part of that old VHS tapes appeal to me, because I totally believed him and would often tell people that my Papa was a movie star. I get excited when I'm flipping through the channels and I catch that movie on nowadays. Sometimes I really do think I see him dancing in the background.

“Well, I used to be bad when I was a kid, but ever since then I’ve gone straight, as has been proved by my record: Thirty-three arrests and no convictions!” - Big Jule

Its a bittersweet feeling knowing that there is a family legacy out there that I didn't really get to experience in losing some of my loved ones when I was so young. But with the memories and stories that I have its a really cool thing that I'll be able to share those things with my children, so that they can know all about their heritage and where they came from.

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Feel like reliving some old school memories of your own? Then head on over to the fabulous blog of Christopher and Tia for a Friday Flashback of your own!

6 comments:

Devon said...

I love hearing stories like that! What special memories you will have to share with your children!

Tia Colleen said...

This is the 2nd tear jerking flashback of the day.

Thats a great picture of you and your papa. It reminds me of spending time with my own papa, who I miss very much as well.

I've never seen that movie, but I'll think of you if I ever do.

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

What precious memories!! Very very special post.

Unknown said...

Thats such a sweet picture!

Thanks for sharing♥

Unknown said...

Aw, beautiful post, Amanda!! So sad yet so very sweet!

Alyssa S. said...

I think it's wonderful you have memories of your short time with him. I wish mine had even a small amount of time with my dad, but it wasn't meant to be. As long as he was a movie star in your eyes, that's all that matters!